Portland Names McKenna Man of Year

PORTLAND, ME -- The Portland Pirates are proud to announce that former St. Lawrence goaltender Mike McKenna has been named the team's winner of the American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Portland community during the 2007-08 season. In his first season with the Pirates, McKenna has made an immediate impact on the Portland community by becoming one of the most active players in the Pirates community relations efforts.

"We get paid to play a game that we love and the people that support you and the city itself deserve to see that back. Portland's been very good and the fans are terrific and that's the biggest reason. If you're in a city that doesn't support the team, it's really hard to support the causes because you don't feel a part of the community. Here the community embraces us and you go out into town and someone says 'Hi' to you, no matter where you are, I think it's really special, and we're lucky to play here," said McKenna.

McKenna has participated in two of the Pirates "Goals for Success" programs sponsored by Aquafina and Healthy Maine Partnerships and Let's Go!. The program is designed to teach kids from grades 3-8 about the importance of setting goals and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Earlier this season, McKenna also helped lead two of the Pirates/Country Kitchen Youth Hockey Clinics for youth hockey players at the Cumberland County Civic Center.

In addition to his work in the classroom and at the rink, like many of his teammates, he graciously gave his time to visit patients at The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center. This season, he and many other Pirates players have made four visits to The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center. McKenna also raised funds for the hospital by auctioning off one of his goalie sticks on Motorsports night. He created a checkerboard design on his stick, then had it signed by the entire team and put the stick online for auction. The stick raised $230 for the Barbara Bush Children's hospital.

On February 24th, McKenna joined with his other teammates to participate in "Salty Pete's Skate for the Kids" as part of the "Day of Hockey" presented by the Bill Dodge Auto Group, an Portland Pirates Foundation event that helped to raise funds and awareness for the kids at The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center.

Throughout the year, McKenna has been involved in many of the Pirates promotional events and participated in numerous autograph sessions and in-game promotions at Pirates home games. He also made appearances at local Shaw's Supermarkets and local restaurants for many of the Pirates community appearances.

McKenna's hockey skills and personality has made him a great role model for the Portland community, making him one of the most recognizable players. Always conducting himself in a professional manner, McKenna has been an excellent representative of the Portland Pirates on the ice and in the community.

In recognition of his efforts, McKenna will be presented with an etched crystal trophy during an on-ice presentation prior to an upcoming Pirates home game.

McKenna is now one of 27 finalists for the AHL's 2007-08 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall American Specialty/AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced later this month.